Seems like most of the comparisons between the Zen and what ever are almost if not questions for a comparision.
While it is a new kite built for VERY light wind capability, I believe the only kite it should be compared to in this thread is the B Pro.
My reasoning for this is that basically what it is, is a B Pro with more sail area.
A B Pro as we've found has better loading, flys a little smoother than a std B and is far superior in reverse flight than a std B. So it's at least in my opinion a huge step up in the B Series line. Did I forget to mention how much better the B Pro handles light wind flight over a std B?
Stopping and thinking about it like this is what I'm asking ya all to do.
There is a point (for me it's about 10 mph) that the std B Pro sail becomes just too twitchy. For those of you who own one, your choice at that point may be to move over to your mid vent with 3 wraps. Am I correct in my assumption? I won't even go into what a poo boy like me might have to do.
They same as above can be said on the low end of the wind range. Friday morning I had the music on, in my own little world flying on 120's. I knew it was that light based on how I started moving with the kite. Oops, get into that in another thread if asked.
But on the low end with a std B Pro with a Race Frame/Silver Bullets there is that point in which the kite becomes sluggish and flying becomes real work even with the skill to fly in low wind. Less that 1 mph for those wondering.
Thats where the Zen comes in. As Felix said earlier in this thread, skill and handling should be transferable from one kite to the next. Well believe it or not, that is exactly what you get with the Zen.
Where the B Pro becomes work to fly on long lines (120's since Team is the game for the most part) the Zen takes the work and cuts it by more than half.
The Zen in .25 mph had more feeling, more drive and speed than what I had just got done experiencing with my B Pro.
Amazingly, the control inputs were exactly the same. Bazzer, Steve and Monkey all said it's sweet spot is about 3 mph. With my personal flying style the sweet spot is a bit lowwer. 1 mph I'd probably be able to fly the Zen like I would be able to fly my B Pro with 3 to 4 mph of wind. Not sure about the upright hover
(
Felix) in that low of wind. But everything else is possible and much, much easier in wind of 4 mph or less.
I'd say that if you have a quiver that contains the Zen and all 3 B Pro versions, you only need 2 line weights. 90# and 150's. No more real need for 50# at team lengths anyway.
While this discription only yaks about the low wind aspect of the kite there is more.
Theres more?
It's fitted with std Rev 1 frames. So, like the 1.5's you have Race frame up to the 4 wrap frame. So while it's a light wind specialist you could fly it in some real wind. I don't know how much iQuad has experimented with the upper extent of the wind range. I'm curious about a doubled up LE with 150's. I would think that would be enough weight and drag to take you up to 12 or maybe 15 mph without being uncomfortable. And while it's not currently in the works just because the std. Zen is still being tested I would bet there will be a mid vent version at some point.
The Zen
IS IMHO a bigger B Pro. It takes all the capabilities of the Pro and allows a person to take those skills into lower wind without all the work. A Pro with a Zen in their hands would be like watching angels flying on a womans fart.
Ya know, they poot, not fart so it's only a slight wind. Never mind.
Hope this helps.
Dean
